Rangers scouted Oscar Gloukh before his £6 million switch to Austria and the Israel international is convinced that Red Bull Salzburg is the right place for him, speaking to the club’s official website.
Even while donning those blue-lensed glasses, the most hard-nosed Gers supporter will be able to appreciate where Gloukh is coming from.
Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane, Naby Keita, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahim Konate; these are just some of the players who made their name at under the Red Bull umbrella, graduating with flying colours from one of European football’s most feted finishing school.
And Gloukh, who caught Rangers’ eye while sparkling at the European U19 Championships last summer (Scottish Sun), obviously buys into the theory that Red Bull does, indeed, ‘give you wings’.
Rangers scouted Oscar Gloukh before Red Bull Salzburg move
“Salzburg know how to develop players,” the teenager explains. “That’s exactly why I wanted to come here at the time. My feelings have been confirmed, I made a really good choice!
“It wasn’t exactly easy to meet so many new people at once. But everyone was very nice here and I quickly made friends! Now I feel like I’ve been here for over a year.”
Gloukh, a ‘very special’ young footballer and ‘one of the greatest talents in Europe’, was also on the radar of Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur and even Barcelona. In his final 12 league games for Maccabi Tel Aviv, Gloukh contributed 12 goals and assists combined.
He’s already set up two goals in his first five Austrian Bundesliga games since that £6 million January switch.
“The conditions here in Austria are just fantastic for any player. The facilities are top and huge,” Gloukh adds. “Here it’s really… wow!
“It’s a great pleasure to play at a club where the level of work is so high. Where you play for titles year after year, and can get a chance to play in the UEFA Champions League.”